The Press. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1865.

Press, Volume VIII, Issue 929, 30 October 1865, Page 2

The Press. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1865.

It has often been remarked, what a' singular change ia apt to appear in the conduct of a place-seeking politician, when once he has attained the great object of his ambition —a seat in the Cabinet; how quickly sentiments once perhaps furiously radical subside into the most decorous conservatism, and with what easy resignation the quondam apostle of economy and retrenchment acquiesces in the expenditure it was formerly his nightly custom to denounce. We shall be curious to see whether Mr. Stafford's new estimates, which we may hope to receive by the next mail from Welliugton, will not show traces of a similar change between his views as leader of the Opposition and as head of the Government. Mr. Stafford, taking dexterous advantage of the fact that the policy adopted by the colony of undertaking its own defence, coming as it did at a

time when the resources of the country had been wasted and its credit reduced to the lowest ebb by the profuse expenditure of a former ad:niuistration, threw upon Mr. Weld's Government the unpopular task of proposing a large increase of the public burdens, selected throughout the session financial questions as those on which his attacks were most likely to be successful. It was his custom to inveigh against the imputed extravagance of the Government, and to draw a meaning contrast between their proposed increase of taxation and his own suggestions for a reduced rate of expenditure. He used to affirm that he saw his way to a reduction of no less than £240,000, and even, failing somewhat of his ordinary acuteness, went so far as to declare on what particular items that reduction could be effected. "We published the figures yesterday from the "Nelson Colonist," to which journal they had been forwarded by Mr. Stafford himself. It will be seen that, leaving out some savings in departmental expenditure, which are not matters of policy and can be at any time controlled by vote of the House, and also the expenditure on the Government Domain, where the money, we believe, has already Beeii spent/, flre propcnroii —n.Ju U tion is accomplished chiefly by cutting down the Internal Defence Estimates by £77,000 and the Native' Estimates by £39,000, and by withdrawing the whole sum set apart for Taranaki Reinstatement and Land Purchase. The latter, we must observe, is a downright breach of public faith, which would never have been ventured

upon had it affected one of the more powerful provinces. This amount formed part of the first £500,000 loan, afterwards incorporated into the three-million loan, which was raised for certain specific purposes, among others the reinstatement of Taranaki. Since then, at a very critical moment in New Zealand affairs, it was found necessary to divert-this portion of the loan from its original purpose and employ it in the general expenditure of the colony. The circumstances may have been such as to justify the appropriation, but it is plain that according to the intention and act of the Legislature the money belongs exclusively to Taranaki, and the loss of it to that province should be made good at the earliest possible opportunity. In this instance Mr. Stafford's economy involves a gross act of injustice. But the other principal saving, according to Mr. Stafford's plan, is to be effected in the Defence and Native estimates, which corresponds with his motion in the House, .pointing out those as the departments which most needed reduction. In Mr. Pitzherbert's financial statement the sum of £88,000 was put i down for Internal Defence, including in that £28,000 for charges incurred in connection with the Militia and Volunteers; from this amount Mr. Stafford pledges himself to cut off £77,000, that is, to do everything that the safety of the country requires for £11,000. He will continue the usual payments by the General Government to the Volunteers, and also maintain a small standing colonial force for suppressing, with the assistance of friendly Natives, all Maori outrages; and all this he will perform for a sum not exceeding £11,000 per annum. Does any one, even among his supporters, believe it ; and what becomes of a retrenchment

that is founded on such ridiculous bounce as this ? B at that was Stafford in Opposition as Premier will see things in a very different light. A. cry for retrenchment may serve as a means of displacing a Ministry, and tells with excellent effect on the hustings, but no one knows better than Mr. Stafford himself that it cannot be carried beyond a certain point, and that if the public service is to be efficiently performed the money

must be forthcoming. Extravagant as he has pronounced the late Defence Estimates to be, we should not be in the least surprised to find his own equalling or even exceeding them in amount.

BKPBESEjrrATIOJf OB THE MiST)KVII.t.E District. — The rumor that Marmadnke Dixon, Esq., of Eyrewell, was likely to offer himself as a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Rickman, is now confirmed by his address, which we publish in our advertising columns of to-day.

CAirFOKNiAN CiHCtrs. —This entertainment was given in Rangiora, on Friday evening. There was a large attendance. The performance throughout elicited great applause.

The Late Gale at Kaiapoi.—Before dawn on Thursday morning, the town was visited by a strong north-westerly gale, which, with the heat and dust, was almost insufferable. About ten a.m. the wind suddenly veered to the west, then to the south-west, from which quarter it blew furiously till about two p.m. We have heard of no great damage further than knocking off soma of the fruit blossoms. One or two temporary sheds have been blown over. Mr. Swarm's soda-water manufactory has loet several corrugated iron sheets off the roof and front, which were carried some distance away. The eyes of those living near the sandhills suffered severely from the clouds of sand which arose.

Volttntkebs. —The following are the rules and conditions under which sweepstakes are to be shot for, as recommended by the mittee appointed by the general committee of tho Canterbury Eifle Volunteers, October 19, 1865 :—l. That they shall be held every second Thursday, and every fourth Saturday in each month. 2. Entrance fees, 2s. 6d. 3. Company arms, Government ammunition. 4. Wimbledon scoring and targets. 5. Hytlie position. 6. Pull off, not less than six lbs. 7. IN'o sighting shots. 8. Ranges to be 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards. 9. Seven shots at either two of the above ranges. 10. The ranges to be given out at parade the week before the day appointed for the match. 11. The competitors to elect an umpire before commencing the match, to whom all disputes, supposed ricochet shots, &c, shall be referred ; and whose decision shall be final. 12. That the sweepstakes shall be open to all Canterbury volunteers. 13. When the entrances amount to 20s. or under, to be divided into two prizes— J and i ; and when over 205., in the same proportions, and third man to have his entrance money returned. 14. Every first prize-taker to allow one point for every first prize he may have taken to the other competitors. 15. All winners of prizes at the late encampment, of £5 and upwards, to allow others two points ; winners of prizes less than £5, to allow one point. 16. Cavalry carbines to be allowed two points at the kneeling ranges. 17. Competitors to appear in uniform. 18. Ties to be divided : first, by hits ; secondly, by single shots at the longest range. 19. Any infringement of the above regulations to disqualify prize takers, and forfeit their passage money. The above to be subject to revision, if found necessary, in course of time.

St. John's Pabish.—A meeting of the namhianaca_fif St. John's will take place on Tuesday evening, at CoHms'lioteL TEe business will be the election of a churchwarden and five vestrymen. Canterbury Auxiliary Bible Society— The general quarterly meeting of this society will be held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday afternoon, at three p.m. Kesident Magisteate's Cotjbt. — Mr. James Dranafield and Mr. Charles Lo'uisson were brought up at Lyttelton, on Saturday last, and fined ss. each and costs, for having horses at large in the town.

Pbincess' Thbatee. —Mr, and Mrs. Harding take a benefit to-nig"it at the theatre ; they will be assisted by Mr. A. T. Bradwell, Mr. B. N. Jones, and several other amateurs. The bill is a very good one, and includes "Lorein Humble Life," the third scene from " Hamlet," with Mr. A. T. Bradwe'.i as Hamlet, farce " Louisa's Lover." Mr. and Mrs. Harding, since their stay in Christchurcb, have given many performances in aid o.f local charities, and no doubt to-night they will command a good house.

Rifle Match.—The match which was to hare taken place on Saturday, betwen Noa. 5 and 6 Companies, was postponed as far as the latter Company was concerned, owing to several of the members being unable to attend; it will however take place on next Saturday week. ''

Attempted Suicide. —On Saturday morning an old man, residing at Papsraui, named William Rapley, attempted to commit suicide by hauging. He had fastened one end of a scarf to the bough of a tree, and, witlx the other end, he had very nearly strangled himself when he was discovered by bis daughter; the blood at the time was oozing from hie nose and mouth. Medical assistance was at once procured, and we heard last evening the man was out of danger. He has been for some time past suffering from occasional fits of insanity, and steps will now be taken to have him removed to the Lunatic Asylum.

Encroachments op xhr River at Kaiapoi.—During the last week the damage sustained by the banks of tins almost unmanageable river has been something rather considerable. Commencing; at the north town boundary, White's old bridge, which has stood many' a heavy fresh, would still do so if properly attended to. Our fears, however, are that the bridge will soon be lost to Kaiapoi, as the river appears to be wearing away the north approach, and is cutting into Charles street, thereby forming a very dangerous bank close to the road, which ought to be immediately protected. Lower down, the encroachment into Eaven slreet, is considerable. This wilC most inevitably, involve great expense and trouble. Had this portion been attended to when the inroads were first noticed, much money would have been saved. During the past "week, we have noticed a deep channel forming at the north approach of the Government bridge, and on Friday morning a large pile, to which one of the etaja of the telegraph poles,were affixed, was found afloat j and was only prevented from drifting away by the wire stay attached to it. If the river here continues its anticipated course uninterrupted; the north approach to the bridge will be endangered. The embankment at Birch and Go's, wharf, below the bridge, has had part taken- from it by the strength of the current. The cause of this disaster is, we think, the formation of a large shingle bed between the tiro bridges, which is fcrciag

the water into the banks on both sides. This may also account for the fresh course of the river lately noticed on the north side, near the G-overnment bridge.

Miss Editii PaimkrstoX.—This lady gave her third entertainment in the Town Hall, on Saturday evening, to a very full house. The programme was nearly the same as on previous evenings, one new feature introduced was the stump speech on local topics, in which Miss Pahnerston made some very happy hits. Tonight, the last but two in which this highly talented lady will appear in Christchurch, there will be an entire change ; an entertainment " Merrie Evenings" (in which Miss Palinerston will introduce the characters " Lady Audley," " Lord Dundreary," and other impersonations) being substituted for " Household Sketches."

Punt over the Waitaki. —Mr. George Bailey, accompanied by the requisite material" for the construction of the Punt across the Waitaki river, at Kurow Ferry, near Mr. Christian Hille's accommodation-house, arrived in Oatnaru on Monday evening, the 23rd instant, and proceeded next morning again to the scene of his labours. The " Oamaru Times" informs us " that this punt will be constructed on tho selfacting principle, and is denominated a Double or Pontoon Punt —beim* almost a facsimile on a smaller scale of the one at the Molyneux Ferry. Its muchinery appears to be less complicated, and not an insignificant feature in the affair is that the cost will be only about one-tenth that of the other. There will be two flat bottomed punts, measuring each over-all 27 feet by 8 feet broad, and connected by a bridge "27 feet long by 10 feet wide. Each will be provided with a hand railing 3 feet 6 inches in height ; and the flaps, or landing stages, will extend the whole width of the bridge. The steering apparatus will consist of two rudders of baltic timber, and a connecting rod attached to both tillers will enable them to act in concert. The punts will likewise be fitted with pumps, and otherwise most substantially and well constructed Five hundred feet of wire rope will be used in the traversing wire, which will be 3£ inches in thickness. This wire or rope, to which the punts are attached, is supported by standards fixed into either bank of the river, 360 feet apart. These standards consist of straining posts and struts or stays, 12 indies in diameter; and afrer being sunk into the ground to a deptli of 7 and 3 feet respectively, the height will be 14 feet on the bank and 18 feet on the river. The standards will be fitted with iron sheaves in the head, and the rope is further secured to the bottom of the stay.-*, which serves as a winch for tightening it. The punts are secured to the wire rope by two patent travellers, constructed with eight-inch brass sheaves and |-inch chain, and further secured by two small blocks and lj-inch rope. There will be two " dummies," or portable approaches, to be moored to the banks with J-inch rope, and fitted so as to be shifted as the state of the river may render necessary The punt will carry four tons on a foot draught of water, and the contractor is required to finish the work by the first of December. We have every confidence, from Mr. Bailey's great experience in such works, that the contract will be successfully carried out and give satisfaction, lie was employed in the construction of the punt at the Molyneux Ferry, and also the bridges at the East and West Taieri. The Kurow Ferry punt, we understand, is being constructed solely at the expense of Mr. Hille, who of course has eecured the proper protection from the Otago and Canterbury Governments. We hope he will find his enterprising speculation a fortunate one. There can be no manner of doubt as to the grea' importance of the work to a large extent of country in that neighborhood."

WEST CANTEEBIJEY GOLD

FIELDS. The-.Coraeapnndeiit of the "Nelson Examiner " writes:—

I mentioned in my last letter the rush that was taking place for the River Mahitahi and Bruce Bay. Since my letter was despatched, several steamers have left Hokitika for the same spot, with full cargoes of passengers. The steamer Bruce has made a second trip thither, and on her return she brought back Mr. Sale, Mr. Browning, and the survey party; the time of the latter gentleman had been employed in laying out the sections of the township, which is to be named Mahitahi, after the stream that joins the sea about a mile from the anchorage. Some sixty or seventy allotments were pegged but, many of which were immediately secured by business people who were on the spot at the time, The accounts brought back are not nearly so satisfactory as were anticipated; in fact, from all I can gather, the miners- who have been left there find themselves in the position of mere prospectors, as no reliable information of gold having' been struck in. payable quantities has been imparted to us by those who have returned. I certainly did hear that prospects o£ 5 dwts. to the dish had been obtained in the neighborhood, a report which was again contradicted on my making closer enquiries into it. At the same time, the diggers are said to be very sanguine that the field will eventually turn out well, as the ground gives every indication of containing gold, and they have one and all set to without delay to test the creeks and gullies, which are said to be numerous in the vicinity of the Mahitahi; let us *liope they will not be disappointed. In addition to the large numbers who have! left by steamers and sailing vessels, many have elected to travel the whole distance by land, and many: of ' the poorer and outlying claims Jo. = tne Totara district have consequently been deserted; indeed, almost every field has lost more or less by this new movement except the Grey, where all appear perfectly contented with the ground that is being worked, and with the prospects that the opening up of mew. country affords them. Some new creek, flowing into the Arnold I am told, has been recently opened, which has drawn together several hundred men who are doing very well. The Kaineri field is still increasing in dimensions, and in its return of gold. T think I mentioned in my last that, Commissioner's JFlat was being profitably worked' at last. The water, which troubled the miners so much whilst sinking isolated shafts, is now being satisfactorily kept under by the numbers / that are being bottomed. The ground is found to be welt worth the extra trouble at first, and is said to be as rich as the original part of the field. There is scarcely a rood of ground to be obtained near the river at the present time. The terrace claims (what are called the terraces here, are made eminences rising very abruptly from the flats, and running back at right angles from the river) ;are still paying steady wages, but their best days arejret before them, as the race, in course of construction, bythe Pioneer Company, will shortly be

finished, when claims that the cradle can hardly render payable, will wear a different aspect under a good head ol water. Tucker Flat is still being vigorously attacked with great success ; some of the claims here are yielding £20 a week per man ; but best of all are the claims in and near the township of Kanieri, and on the river bank close to the junction of Kaniori, with the Hokitika. It is :x

strange sight to look at the windlasses, pumps, wheels, and other raining paraphernalia erected iv the middle of the street, and close to the front entrance of a respectable store or hotel; stranger still, to trust yourself in an iron bucket, and quickly to be lowered some thirty feet down the well slabbed shaft, and to inspect the numerous ramifications in the form of T drives, &c, which in some instances lead under the houses, and which, should the store or hotel-keeper render himself obnoxious to the claim-holders, might prdve ruinous to him by the removal of the props, and the consequent settling of the ground ; and here may be seen the digger's candle lit, driving his pick into the washdirt, which is quickly removed by his mates into the bucket, wound into daylight, and cradled. Business iv the Kanieri township is greatly improved of late; in its early days the diggers were very careful of their earnings, but report says that much of their gold is now spent on the spot ; at the same time, the propinquity of the town to Hokitika, where, bad as it is, there is more amusement to be had than at the Kanieri, induces many to spend their Saturday and Sunday nights in this place. The Six-mile (Waimea) is reported to have entered upon a new epoch in mining. A second bottom, has been arrived at, yielding in some cases prospects of two pennyweights to the dish; so the district which has of late been thrown into the shade by the new discoveries will iv all probability be rushed again. There is in course of construction up there a race which will bring water for sluicing purposes on to some ground that is much in want of it, so we hope that the gold returns from this field will be on the increase. The second bottom I have mentioned as having been struck at the above district, is by no means peculiar to it; in almost all the fields that have as yet been opened up, two, and in some cases, three strata of payable washdirt have been gone through before arriving at the main reef; in some instances the miners have left their claims after having worked these out, thinking that no rich deposit would lie underneath, and the bottom has been gained, and found equally rich by subsequent and more sanguine holders.

Erom the Totara the news has been rather scanty of late. I have heard of no new ground having been successfully broken into since my last communication ; the district, however, continues to forward a good share of gold, and is certainly an important one. I believe that deep, sinking is not found to be so remunerative as was at first expected, and the mainstay of the place is the heavy coarse gold found at the depth of a .few feet in the numerouT gullies there. The Greenstone creek still supports a settled population of miners, numbering from 350 to 400, at wages varying from £6 to £12 per week a head. Some claims are, however, paying more handsomely. Harrington's party, for instance, have a claim that yields from £35 to £40 a man weekly. A race has been completed there within the last few days; it brings eight heads of water on to one of the terraces,, a distance of one and a-half miles, and the work is "flumed" the entire distance. Another and larger work, of the same description, is being proceeded with—to bring in forty heads of water a distance of five miles. Both works are much required, and will be equally , valuable to the companies and miners. A few days since, a nugget, weighing fortyifive ounces, was discovered in this district, at a depth of about ten feet. l At the same time numerous smaller pieces, weighing from ten pennyweights. to two ounces, were taken out.